49X18 daily
49x17 for blazing / long flat rides

Most good riders run 70-80 in.

Yes, but with a large chainring, starting from a deadstop, and getting up to speed is harder. And I've gotten stronger, that's why I said used to.

you realize that doesn't make any sense, right?

higher gear = top speed and low rpms
lower gear = acceleration and spin

I'm totally baffled.

why dont you guys use gear-inches when talking about this stuff. i understand everyone rides 27s or 700cs so its all relative or whatever....

but its really annoying seeing all the sets of numbers that require extra thought to figure how many gear inches it is. blah blah blah im bored

werd cuz if this was 650s of 20s the ratio would be different

I gave up on that battle a long time ago.

retem... thats what im saying. i understand that its the same for all of us (i know what gear inches and a gear ration is sheesh). if it werent...then no one would ever say they rode # # cause youd also have to list your tire size.

even though we all ride the same size tires...its still annoying...although it works. thats my point. ill never give up...since this is my first time being really annoyed with it. i will take the torch from here jim-bob! byyyyaaahhh!

well here is my thing my wife rides 650s on one bike and 700s ont he other I olso mess around with fixed bmx bikes for polo soo.....

Yeah, I ride 24", 26" mtb, 650c, and 700c from 25 to 60. I think in gear inches.

As far as I can tell, the rest of the world exclusively rides 700x20 or something like that, and doesn't believe in other sizes.

Good luck with the battle! I'll be cheering for you.

It's weird because I use that gear ratio to commute (48x15 for weekend roadie rides) and it's completely flat here. Am I weak?

3 of my bikes are 700x23
1 is 27
1 is 26
my wife has one 700x37
1 26"
1 27"

48x16
48x13
I switch each week.

Simplified:
Bigger gears=more to move to produce the same effect

Like retum said in a way the ratio may be equal, but with the smaller gears faster acceleration and more spin, larger slow acceleration, less spin.

thats not true

you have it switched up.

you both have it backwards. higher ratio, lower ratio between gears so more spin but slow acceleration. small gears make for smaller acceleration and gear ratio which gives high aceleration but also large cadence gives more smaller spin. lengthy cog make for large ratio so you have huge spin but wide acceleration. once you figure out how thin your gear ratio is, then you can tell if your spin will be as large as someone with deeper Vs.

lets use gear inches and never speak of this again.

That argument made no sense and was completely lacking in grammar.

i have a headache now.

let me try and straighten this out and then we can all just use gear inches

2 scenarios:

1. there are two bikes. both bikes have the same rims, hubs, wheels, cog, etc. one bike is geared 50/19(aprox. 71 gear inches), the other is geared 42/16 (also aprox. 71 gear inches). if the bikes go the same speed their pedal candance will be the same*.

2. same two bikes as before now one is geared high at 52/14 and the other is geared low at 42/19. the bike with the high gearing will take much more energy to start but will have a much greater top speed. the bike that is geared low will be much easier to pedal but will have a much lower top speed.


in the 42/16 vs 50/19 scenario some might argue that the smaller cogs are better because they are more effiecient. i don't ****ing care, i can't tell the difference.

you all knew this, but those last few posts were annoying the crap out of me.

* 50/19 is .17 gear inches more than 42/16

i hope you guys realize this was a complete joke and purposely doesn't make any sense

On this forum, I've gotten used to things being completely serious and unintentionally not making any sense.

I expect the worst.

Before I read half the threads, I already assume 'user error'.

yes I would hope that he would know better

49x18 and knees are still good.
Mostly avoid going down hills to save $$ replacing skidded out rear tires. A number of runs down upper Haight to lower Haight will take your tire out!